17. Tricking Bibi Dong

Last night's events didn't make him mind Bibi Dong's current coldness at all.

He still smiled, kneeling obediently on the bed, nodding his head.

"Okay, Jue will get down now."

As he pressed his small hands on the bed, he noticed the torn quilt. Qian Renjue raised his eyes and looked at Bibi Dong with curiosity.

"Hurry up!" Bibi Dong said curtly, her face expressionless.

Qian Renjue had no choice but to shift his attention to where he had taken off his shoes last night, under the couch, but it was empty.

"?"

Qian Renjue was puzzled. He crawled back and forth on the bed, changing positions, but still couldn't find his shoes. Finally, he looked to Bibi Dong for help.

"Sister, where are my shoes?"

Before he finished speaking, he saw his shoes neatly placed by the bed.

Delighted, he looked at Bibi Dong, who didn't pay him any mind and continued with her tasks, preparing for her outing.

Qian Renjue pouted slightly but still happily put on his shoes, then stood still, looking at Bibi Dong expectantly.

Bibi Dong glanced at him, frowned, and urged, "Now that you've put on your shoes, you can leave."

"Okay," Qian Renjue replied softly, waving gently to Bibi Dong. "Goodbye, Sister!" Then he began to slowly walk toward the door.

"Wait a minute," Bibi Dong suddenly called out, pointing to the flowers on the table. Trying to regain her previous demeanor, she said coldly, "Take the trash you brought with you."

"Jue understands," Qian Renjue nodded with a smile. He quickly grabbed the glass vase with the flowers, noticing that one of the flowers was still fresh while the other two were wilting. Curious, he poked the large red petals with his finger, enjoying the texture. He smiled at Bibi Dong before running outside.

Through the window, Bibi Dong saw Qian Renjue carefully place the flowers in a stone flower bed and pour water from the glass over them.

Afterward, he hesitated briefly but didn't leave. Instead, he returned to the doorway, peeking in to see Bibi Dong.

Seeing this, Bibi Dong, who had just breathed a sigh of relief thinking he was leaving, became annoyed.

She glared at Qian Renjue, her voice growing colder and louder.

"Why aren't you leaving yet?!"

"Sister, Jue… Jue still has a gift for you," Qian Renjue said hesitantly, his voice lacking confidence but his eyes filled with hope.

Bibi Dong would be away for a long time, and he was reluctant to part. He feared Bibi Dong might become more distant and was even more afraid that he might not see her again in the future.

"I don't need it! Just leave!" Bibi Dong snapped, turning away to continue packing her things.

Qian Renjue clung to the doorframe, his eyes showing a bit of stubbornness. He looked at his small fist, his eyes brightening as if he had thought of a good idea. Gathering his courage, he ran over to Bibi Dong, tugging at her skirt.

"Sister…"

"Get away from me! Stop bothering me!" Bibi Dong yanked her skirt back and took two steps away. She didn't understand why this child was so persistent!

"Sister, Jue really has a gift for you. Could you please just take a look…" Qian Renjue held out his small fist in front of Bibi Dong, looking up at her with pleading eyes.

Their gazes met, both somewhat avoiding eye contact. Qian Renjue, feeling guilty, said, "Sister, please just take a look. If you don't like it, Jue won't give it to you!"

Unable to meet Qian Renjue's eyes, Bibi Dong didn't notice anything unusual. Squinting, she focused on the small fist in front of her. The curiosity from last night resurfaced—where did this child get that mysterious "golden cube"?

Seeing that Bibi Dong seemed a bit interested, Qian Renjue was overjoyed. He stepped forward, tugging at Bibi Dong's skirt, smiling as he said, "Sister, please take a look first, okay?"

Bibi Dong hesitated for a moment, sighed inwardly, and finally agreed with a cold voice, "After I look, you have to leave."

"Sister, once you've seen it, Jue will leave! I promise!" Qian Renjue's eyes were filled with joy, overshadowing his guilt. He continued pulling at Bibi Dong's skirt, urging her to squat down.

Bibi Dong, not wanting to think further, frowned as she followed Qian Renjue's tug and slowly squatted down. Looking at the child in front of her, smiling like a small sun, her heart filled with guilt.

"Sister, look quickly!" Qian Renjue stood in front of Bibi Dong, holding his small fist up to her face. Bibi Dong focused her gaze.

"Sister, this is the gift Jue wants to give you!" Qian Renjue slowly opened his small hand, but it was empty.

Bibi Dong was slightly taken aback, and before she could react, that small hand had disappeared. She looked up at Qian Renjue, who suddenly pressed his warm little hands on her face. His face rapidly approached hers, and she felt a warm, moist touch on her lips.

Bibi Dong was stunned. She stared at Qian Renjue, who was now so close that they could exchange breaths, her face trembled slightly.

"Mom!" Qian Renjue happily hugged Bibi Dong's neck, rubbing his face against hers, and sweetly said, "Mom, when you're feeling sad outside, think about Jue more. Jue will think about Mama too!"

Qian Renjue beamed with a bright, warm smile. Bibi Dong's purple eyes reflected Qian Renjue, as if golden light was flowing through them.

"Hee hee!" After speaking, Qian Renjue quickly gave another kiss and, unable to contain his excitement, ran out.

Bibi Dong stood there in a daze, watching Qian Renjue.

"Mom, be strong! Goodbye, Mom!" Qian Renjue ran, turned back to wave at Bibi Dong, and smiled. "Ah!" He nearly tripped over the doorstep of the courtyard.

Bibi Dong instinctively started to rush after him, but then abruptly stopped herself.

"Goodbye, Mom! Think of Jue, okay?" Qian Renjue called out again as he ran out of the courtyard, turning back one last time to wave before disappearing happily into the distance.

Bibi Dong stood at the doorway, raising her hand to touch her lips, her face blushing slightly. She couldn't believe she had been tricked by a child. As she watched the spot where Qian Renjue had disappeared, she could still see a warm glow. She knew that the light wasn't from the sun; it was something he had left behind.

Bibi Dong pressed her lips together, whispering softly in her heart, "Jue, you should think of Mom too, but… not too much."

…

Meanwhile, in another part of the dawn-lit sky, Qian Renxue, half-awake, sensed something was wrong. She hurriedly looked around and confirmed that Qian Renjue was no longer in the room.

The flowers he had prepared were also gone.

Qian Renxue immediately realized that Qian Renjue must have gone down the mountain to find Bibi Dong while she was asleep.

Filled with anxiety, she rushed down the mountain, and as she neared Bibi Dong's courtyard, she finally saw Qian Renjue.

Qian Renxue let out a sigh of relief and waved, calling out loudly to the climbing Qian Renjue, "Jue!"